Best Campgrounds near Swannanoa, NC

Absolutely beautiful area and one of my new favorite wilderness areas on the east side of the country. I went solo camping for 5 days and stayed at the overlook, got really lucky finding my spot in the middle of the night but nonetheless, I drove the whole road South end to North in my fwd sedan haha and saw plenty of beautiful spots to settle at. Definitely recommend you to come check this out, I met some of the nicest people and another solo traveler that I ended up spending 2 nights with. You definitely wont regret it, and dont worry If you dont have a great car for offroad, I saw alot of reviews about absolutely needing an AWD vehicle with good clearance but I maneuvered my way through the road with my little hyundai. You definitely need to be a confident driver if you do that though. Good luck, hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

We stayed for six days in March. We loved everything about this campground. The sites are spacious and well spaced, offering more privacy than many locations. The showers and bathrooms were very clean. There are numerous hikes that are on the grounds or just outside. The staff was very helpful and friendly. The campground is 15 minutes from downtown Asheville and 5 minutes from the North Carolina arboretum.

You MUST camp outside of 1000ft from road. You WILL get investigated by park Rangers, which stepped up enforcement of this stupid, pointless law around 2 years ago.

Otherwise, wonderful, awesome spot. If you wanna ignore the rules, I advise the topmost pullout. Best sunrise views.

On a road trip with my adult daughter, we had planned to stay at this campsite just one night, but we loved it so much that we ended up staying a second night.

The prices were reasonable, and many of the campsites were generously sized, many of them with lots of trees shade. Ours was right next to the river, which meant we could watch the water go by as we were sitting there at the picnic table enjoying a meal. 

Maybe we got lucky, but all the neighbors were reasonably quiet and some of them were quite friendly. 

We appreciated the fact that there are a few trails right there on the property and that there is also a museum on the property where you can learn lots about the history of this famous Tennessean for which the campsite and park were named.

This is my favorite SC park (so far). Several waterfalls are in the area, plus fishing lakes and swimming beach. Lots of outdoorsy things to do, and beautiful views of Table Rock from the Mountain Laurel Campground. The White Oak Campground is hillier. I stayed here over New Year's and did a ranger-led First Day Hike.

I have visited This little Gem in East Tenn. For the Best part of my life. I have seen this place change from the small little campground & Swimming Pool , with the little Cabin starting in the mid 80's. As a Family Reunion was always Scheduled there for the Nickles,Hicks,Dykes, Edwards clan.And the best memories of my Crazy Partying Parts & Aunts .But always respected the other Members 

 This has included some of my best Fishing Memories,catching a Monster of. CatFish in the back honey Hole! Made my Father so proud.

So of course as a Father of 3 sons,who now are having children of their own. I of course made sure they had there fill of this great place.

I visited in July 2024. This is a great older campground. It has been well taken care of over the years. The Rangers on staff are great. There are no showers on site, but there are flushable toilets. There are a couple of potable water sources on the property. There is easy access to multiple sightseeing areas. Great place to go and camp.

I camped here in June 2023, for the second time. This is a federal campsite. The fee for camping is five dollars a night. Just right outside the federal camping area is disbursed camping. There approximately eight dispersed camping sites. Remember this is bear country. Follow all the bear rules and be cautious. I will come back here next time I’m in the area. It is well worth it.

The views were incredible!! Love the size of the sites and ease to get to them.

Right off 276 on the right as you are going down the mountain. Hard gravel road. As soon as you turn in there is a spot on the left and a little further up there is a bigger spot right on the little creek just before the gate. Not 100% sure it is a spot as it is not marked but signs may have been damaged and it does show a tent symbol on the forest service map. There is a lot of back and forth traffic in the morning but it dies down around 9 pm. There is a fall a few miles up the road and connects to other service roads hence the traffic . We made it down the road in a 30' class A motorhome and made a 180 and was able to level the rig no problem and it's well off the road Did not see any fire rings in this spot or the first one ( pictured in the first image). No cell service, starlink worked enough to stream tv and post this.

Cosby Campground sounds like a gem for those seeking a peaceful yet adventure-filled getaway in the Great Smoky Mountains! The mix of serene camping, hiking access to renowned trails like the Appalachian Trail, and proximity to tourist towns like Gatlinburg makes it a great spot. With opportunities for fishing, wildlife spotting(1,500 bears– wow!), and rafting on the Pigeon River, it offers something for everyone. Plus, its rich history and biodiversity make it an even more unique experience. Definitely worth checking out for anyone craving both nature and nearby attractions!

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The site was big with lot of more plus private. The bathroom was clean and showers were hot.

Big Creek Campground, located in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, offers a peaceful tent-only camping experience alongside the beautiful Big Creek. With amenities like flushing toilets and potable water, it combines backcountry charm with essential comforts. The area is a hiker's paradise, featuring over 800 miles of trails, including the challenging Baxter Creek Trail and the scenic Big Creek Trail with its stunning waterfalls. Anglers can enjoy excellent trout fishing, especially in spring, while wildlife enthusiasts may spot black bears and river otters. At an elevation of 1,700 feet, the campground is surrounded by picturesque mountains and pristine streams, making it a perfect spot for relaxation and exploration. Nearby attractions include Cataloochee Valley and the Appalachian Trail, enhancing the outdoor adventure experience. Overall, Big Creek Campground is a fantastic destination for nature lovers seeking both adventure and tranquility.

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Peaceful, calm, excellent folks, and very relaxing. I camped here for more than two weeks in August. Site #4, site 19, and site #47. The campground is clean, quiet, and well-maintained. The owners and staff were great and super helpful. Site #4 is on the creek. It was short for my 32-foot RV but manageable. It had full hookups. Site #4 was level and semi-shaded. The WiFi signal was great, and speeds were reasonable. I used the bathhouse showers and laundry. Both were clean. I moved to site 19, which is not on the creek but on the edge of the field. It was very level as well, and all hookups worked fine. The WiFi at site 19 was considerably worse, but the sky was clear, and I could fully use my Starlink service. The central field area is mowed and set up as an RC flying field. A few campers flew their model airplanes. It was fun to watch. I even jumped into the RC hobby, buying a trainer plane at a local Hobby Shop, and began flying. I moved to site 47, which was the best of all three. It’s a good-sized site right on the creek and just up from swimming hole#2. There were two swimming holes along the creek, which were a ton of fun. I swam in both. The water is very clear and refreshing. The campground is close to the Blue Ridge Parkway(about 10 miles). I rode my motorcycle up Route 80 to the Blue Ridge. Route 80 is a great winding road. The campground is very close to downtown Marion and some shops, groceries, and restaurants. Overall, this is a great campground with a great staff, location, and is very relaxing.

Wowza! The views here are beautiful, very private and secluded campground. Pet friendly and the creek right next along the site was perfect! Super clean and has exceptional host & owner who will do their best to meet your needs. Prices are competitive but the beauty of this space is like no other by no means! Can't wait to come back for the fall foliage and bonfires. Oh yeah and to sharpen my axe throwing skills, corn hole is already on point so that was a nice touch also!